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Saturday, January 31, 2015

These columns were once molten lava running slowly down the ridges and slopes of Mount Rainier. When the lava encountered the massive Ice Age glaciers that once filled the park’s valleys, giant predecessors to today’s glaciers, the lava cooled quickly and cracked into narrow hexagonal columns. These columns can be seen at various locations throughout the park. This photo was taken on Sunrise Road.

A United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket with the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) observatory onboard is seen in this long exposure photograph as it launches from Space Launch Complex 2, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. SMAP is our first Earth-observing satellite designed to collect global observations of surface soil moisture and its freeze/thaw state. SMAP will provide high resolution global measurements of soil moisture from space. The data will be used to enhance scientists' understanding of the processes that link Earth's water, energy, and carbon cycles. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

A post-launch briefing was held Jan. 31 to discuss the launch and status of NASA’s Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) spacecraft. SMAP, which launched earlier the same day aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket from California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base, is the first U.S. Earth-observing satellite designed to collect global observations of surface soil moisture. The mission’s high resolution space-based measurements of soil moisture will give scientists a new capability to better predict natural hazards of extreme weather and improve our understanding of Earth’s water, energy and carbon cycles.

This week, the Interior Department nominated 10 Frank Lloyd Wright buildings -- including Fallingwater in Pennsylvania (pictured here) -- to be World Heritage Sites. The World Heritage List recognizes the most significant cultural and natural sites on the planet. Learn more: http://on.doi.gov/1tFN7Nt

SMAP will provide high resolution, space-based measurements of soil moisture and its state -- frozen or thawed -- a new capability that will allow scientists to better predict natural hazards of extreme weather, climate change, floods and droughts, and help reduce uncertainties in our understanding of Earth's water, energy and carbon cycles. #EarthRightNow

SMAP will provide high resolution, space-based measurements of soil moisture and its state -- frozen or thawed -- a new capability that will allow scientists to better predict natural hazards of extreme weather, climate change, floods and droughts, and help reduce uncertainties in our understanding of Earth's water, energy and carbon cycles. #EarthRightNow#SMAP

Levees are the backbone of the flood control plan for the Mississippi River and Tributaries project. The system protects the vast expanse of the developed alluvial valley from periodic overflows of the Mississippi River. The mainstem levee system begins at the head of the alluvial valley at Cape Girardeau, Mo., and continues to Venice, La., approximately 10 miles above the Head of Passes near the Gulf of Mexico. The MR&T levee system includes 3,787 miles of authorized embankments and floodwalls. Of this number, nearly 2,216 miles are along the mainstem Mississippi River. The remaining levees are backwater, tributary and floodway levees. (Photo of mainstem Miss. River levee between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, La., 2011 flood.)

Teams met today and gave a “go” to proceed with the launch of NASA’s Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) spacecraft atop a ULA Delta II rocket at 9:20 a.m. EST (6:20 a.m. PST) on Saturday, Jan. 31. This followed the completion of minor repairs to the Delta II rocket. During inspections following the Jan. 29 launch attempt, minor “debonds” to the booster insulation were identified. A standard repair was implemented. More:http://blogs.nasa.gov/smap#SMAP#EarthRightNow

Early bird sees a launch! Our Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) observatory, which will produce the highest-resolution and most accurate maps of soil moisture ever obtained from space, is set to launch tomorrow, at 9:20 a.m. EST from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. NASA TV coverage begins at 7 a.m. Watch: http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv#EarthRightNow

Amazing winter shot of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in Colorado. David Paul Davie took captured this shot of dark clouds rolling over the park's main dunefield, which covers approximately 30 square miles. Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is home to a diverse landscape of grasslands, wetlands, conifer and aspen forests, alpine lakes and tundra -- not to mention the tallest dunes in North America.

On January 29, 2015, Senator Inhofe asked questions to Dr. Henry Kissinger, Dr. Madeleine Albright and Dr. George Shultz during a SASC hearing entitled ''Global Challenges and the U.S. National Security Strategy.''

The Old Dominion Dominates when it comes to farming – more than one-third of the state’s area is farmland. VA Farmers, take a BOW! Check back next week for another in-depth state focus from the 2012 Census of Agriculture.

Nothing can compare to the economic impact agriculture has in Virginia. 2012 Census of Agriculture counted more than 46,000 farms, which cover more than 8.3 million acres of farmland in the commonwealth. That’s nearly a third of our entire state! In fact, according to Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, agriculture is our state’s largest industry.

In the most recent census, Virginia farmers reported selling more than $3.7 billion worth of agricultural products. Of these, most came from the livestock sector. Broiler chickens were the top commodity sold in 2012, the year of the latest Census of Agriculture. That year, growers sold $638.3 million worth of broiler hens.

Cattle is another big commodity in Virginia. In 2012 our farmers and rancher sold more than $430 million worth of cattle and calves. And, as can be expected, with livestock you also get livestock products, such as milk. In 2012, farmers sold nearly $347.2 million worth of cow milk in Virginia.

Our crop sales, which amounted to nearly $1.4 billion in 2012 are also nothing to sneeze at. In Virginia, soybeans are our top crop. Nearly 580,000 acres of farmland are dedicated to this crop, with Virginia farmers selling more than $300 million worth of soybeans in 2012.

Not surprisingly, tobacco is a major crop in Virginia. While this industry is not as big as it once was, Virginia still ranks as one of the top 5 states for tobacco. In 2012, our farmers sold $109 million worth of leaf tobacco from their farms.

Virginia farmers also grow plenty of edible fruits and vegetables. According to the 2012 Census, our farmers harvested more than 5,000 acres of potatoes and more than 3,000 acres of tomatoes, which are key vegetable crops in the commonwealth. On the fruit side, apples are the largest commodity in Virginia. Our growers harvested nearly 12,000 acres of apples in 2012. And, largely in thanks to our growing wine industry, grapes are now one of the top agricultural commodities in Virginia. Our farmers dedicated more than 4,300 acres to grape production in 2012.

There are plenty of other facts about Virginia agriculture that I could mention here, but I’ll let you check them out yourself. You can turn to the Virginia volume of the 2012 Census of Agriculture, or get the numbers using our Quick Stats database.

A company that worked with Doctor Oz is now paying $9 million dollars in settlements after many people say the weight loss pills they endorsed didn’t work. Doctor Oz was called before a U.S Senate Panel chaired by Senator Claire McCaskill back in 2014 under allegations that he endorsed a green coffee bean extract which promised weight loss without dieting or exercising.

Under questioning from Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, the head of the U.S. Congressional Budget Office (CBO) confirmed that our nation’s $18 trillion national debt remains a drag on the economy and job growth, and continued increased federal spending used as a short-term strategy to boost the economy will have serious negative long-term effects on the country’s economic future. Crapo, a senior member of the Senate Budget Committee, participated in a hearing to examine CBO’s annual Budget and Economic Outlook report where he questioned Director Elmendorf on the urgent need to begin paying down our massive national debt.

Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander spoke on the Senate floor this afternoon on the “Innovation for Healthier Americans” report he and Senator Burr released today. The senators' report details the challenges to getting safe treatments, devices and cures to patients more quickly and effectively, examining what is working, and what isn’t, at the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health.

Launch Scrub: Today’s planned launch of our Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) observatory has been postponed due to an upper level wind violation. We will try again tomorrow at 9:20 a.m. EST. For more on SMAP, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/smap#EarthRightNow

Happy Statehood Day Kansas! — It's a #TBT day! Today in 1861, Kansas became the 34th U.S. State. To show you how much we care, here's a photo of a giant mushroom rock. See, who said we're not gneiss people?

For those that don't know, this is a photo from 1916 of Pulpit rock near Alum Creek south of Carneiro, in Ellsworth County, Kansas, which is a hard mass of Dakota sandstone that has resisted erosion better than the underlying softer bed that forms its pedestal. The two dubious looking characters under the mushroom rock do not appear to have any pipe wrenches in their hands and, though they're wearing hats, we don't see the letters "M" or "L" on them. Therefore, we can scientifically conclude that they are not Mario and Luigi. Move on people, nothing to see here.

Will you be in the DC metro area on Saturday February 7? If so, come in from the cold and explore your world with NOAA! Join us at our Silver Spring, Maryland, campus for the #NOAAOpenHouse -- a series of free activities, including engaging talks by NOAA experts, interactive exhibits, special tours, and cool, hands-on activities for kids aged 5 and up.

Stop by and talk with our scientists, weather forecasters, hurricane hunters, and others who work hard every day to understand our environment, protect life and property, and conserve and protect America's natural resources. Visit http://www.noaa.gov/openhouse for details or call 301-713-7258 for more information.

Astronomers using data from our Kepler Mission have discovered a system of five small planets dating back to when the Milky Way galaxy was a youthful two billion years old. Details: http://go.nasa.gov/1wCpkJn

Today, visitors to the Grand Canyon National Park got to see this stunning sight. This weather phenomenon is called a total cloud inversion, and it happens when the air near the ground is cooler than the air above it, creating a sea of clouds. While typically a rare event, this is the second cloud inversion at the Grand Canyon in six weeks. Pictured here is the "Battleship," which truly looked like a ship today, cutting through the waves. Photo by M. Quinn, National Park Service. — atGrand Canyon National Park.

Dr. Daniel Pfeffermann, current President of the International Association of Survey Statisticians, discussed the implications big data might have for the production of official statistics at the recent Morris Hansen Lecture, an annual, open-to the-public education and outreach event held at USDA’s Jefferson Auditorium in Washington D.C. Pfeffermann stressed that big data may improve the timeliness of statistics while reducing response burden, but only if big data can be properly assessed, analyzed and interpreted to provide high quality, accurate information that is truly of value to users. USDA/NASS Photo by Dan Beckler.

Unless you live completely off the grid, you likely have heard of, and contribute to, “big data,” the often-used catch phrase describing massive (and ever-increasing) volumes of information stored digitally on computers, servers and clouds.

From advertisers using data mined from customer interactions; to government agencies making data public so developers can create beneficial mobile apps; to farmers applying statistical data to determine their production and marketing practices, a wide-variety of people and industries use big data.

So what implications, then, might big data have for the production of official statistics? Dr. Daniel Pfeffermann, current President of the International Association of Survey Statisticians, addressed this topic at the recent Morris Hansen Lecture, an annual, open-to the-public education and outreach event recently held at USDA’s Jefferson Auditorium in Washington D.C. Pfeffermann stressed that big data presents some impressive opportunities and notable challenges.

Big data might improve the timeliness of statistics while reducing response burden, he said, but only if big data can be properly assessed, analyzed and interpreted to provide high quality, accurate information that is truly of value to users. Big data is interesting and valuable for us at the National Agricultural Statistics Service, where we strive to provide timely, accurate, and useful statistics in service to U.S. agriculture. We accomplish this mission by administering hundreds of surveys online, over the phone and in person each year, the Census of Agriculture every five years, and preparing reports covering nearly every aspect of U.S. agriculture. In short, we generate tremendous amounts of statistics about agriculture.

We have used two classes of big data for many years in the production of official statistics – remotely sensed satellite data and administrative records. Other sources of big data are still to be explored and may add to the quality or detail of the current information.

Unfortunately, big data is likely not the silver bullet for statistical agencies confronting reduced response rates and demands for more, better; faster data with fewer and fewer resources. Technological advancements, such as the rise of big data, are certainly worthy of exploration, to the extent that they might improve our ability to provide timely, accurate, and useful statistics to the people we serve.

It looks like we are still at the beginning of big data. It will take a lot of research and continued collaboration among statisticians, computer scientists, software designers, engineers, and the public. I for one can’t wait to see what happens when big data and official statistics find a way to merge. The opportunities will be endless.

"Today we remember and give thanks for the lives and contributions of those who gave all trying to push the boundaries of human achievement... They have our eternal respect, love and gratitude." - NASA Administrator Charles Bolden

Bolden addressed NASA personnel and others during a wreath laying ceremony as part of our Day of Remembrance today at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. The wreaths were laid in memory of those men and women who lost their lives in the quest for space exploration. More:http://go.nasa.gov/18u87NU

Kristin Merony and Tammy Randall-Parker, a Forest Service district ranger and a ski instructor at Telluride Mountain Resort, after Kristin’s first solo run down the mountain after a day of ski lessons. (U.S. Forest Service)

A new year means new resolutions and new adventures to embark upon. As many of you sit down to contemplate your goals of the year, I would like to suggest learning to ski or snowboard on national forests.

Last winter, I ventured onto the Uncompahgre National Forest in Colorado as a true beginner to the sport of skiing. Even today, I can vividly recall the distinctive “click” as my boots locked into my rental skis for the first time. As I looked around at the other skiers and snowboarders effortlessly cruising on the crisp high-country powder I became excited. I knew I would soon be like them, schussing effortlessly down the mountain. Or so I thought.

As Colorado’s newest resident, I had to see for myself what it takes to be a skier. Looking around the ski area, I saw children fly past me without ski poles and seasoned experts sliding off the lift with a graceful ease before gliding down the slopes – backwards.

I could only imagine how they looked at me. I wobbled back and forth trying just to stand. At that moment I thanked myself for the wisdom to seek out lessons from a professional ski instructor. The slopes I envisioned conquering would have to wait.

“The first day is always the toughest,” said my instructor, Tammy Randall-Parker, a Forest Service district ranger and a certified ski instructor.

She promised to take me step-by-step through the process from basic mechanics to stopping at full speed, turns on one leg and seemingly endless trips up the magic carpet. Hours later, after getting the feel for it, Tammy finally gave me the clear to take on my first green circle, or the easiest terrain with a gentle slope. I remember that as I pushed off with my ski poles, held my breath and slowly made my way down. All the while, I kept repeating her advice in my head: “Shift your weight, roll your toes, pick up your foot, glide.” Sounds simple, but without her guidance and tips I would have never made it 10 feet.

Lucky for me, Tammy has a lot of experience with newcomers.

“When you see their face light up with the big smile as they finish their very first run it’s infectious - like looking in a mirror,” she said. “They instantly forget about the boots that were hurting them and all the falls that came before. Now, they have conquered there first run and will be back to see me tomorrow to learn more and enjoy their new love of skiing.”

Newbies like myself have learned how to ski or snowboard on national forests for a very long time. Now, as an employee, I know the agency is very proud to provide a place for people to learn how to slide on snow. Learning to ski with a qualified instructor is the best start to make sure everyone on the mountain has a safe and enjoyable experience like I did.

Thanks to Tammy, I did not venture into any terrain I was not prepared for. But in case, she also taught me how to navigate between other skiers and snowboarders who were enjoying their day, too.

While on the mountain that day, I learned even more. Forest Service snow ranger Shelly Grail provided a list of tips for skiers and snowboarders to keep them safe while having fun on the mountain.

New experiences are always scary at first. However there are plenty of resources out there to get you connected to skiing and snowboarding and make the activity a little less daunting. For example, there is a skiing and snowboarding program for grade-school children in Colorado where fifth and sixth graders have the opportunity to ski for free at certain areas.

Learning new things, especially sports, can be difficult. But those new ventures also can create life-long memories; I will never forget as we turned in our rental gear, my instructor turned to me, gave me a high five and said, “You are officially a skier.” I don’t think I stopped smiling the entire ride home.

The bright sunshine and clear blue skies of Colorado served as a perfect backdrop for Kristin Merony as she prepared to learn how to ski at Telluride Mountain Resort, which operates on the Uncompahgre National Forest. (U.S. Forest Service)